City's Bratislava breeze is just what Pep ordered as Haaland and Co. cruise to victory 

Erling Haaland maintained his better than a goal a game average in the Champions League and, with the statisticians predicting eight points will see a team advance from the league stage, City are now halfway to that goal

HEAD AND SHOULDERS: Manchester City's Erling Haaland gets in a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Slovan Bratislava and Manchester City in Bratislava, Slovakia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Pic: AP Photo/Petr Josek

SLOVAN BRATISLAVA 0 MAN CITY 4

THEIR perfectionist manager will doubtless want to know why his team did not approach double figures on this most comfortable of Champions League excursions but, given his recent problems, a routine night at the office will do Pep Guardiola and Manchester City no harm.